Process of making pressed-steel car wheels



Dec 3, 1929- V J. R. WINTER 1,738,414

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Patented Dec. 3, 1929 Unirse srATEs PATENT OFFICE TOHN R. WINTER, GF WARREN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO YOUNGSTOWN PRESSED STEEL COMIPANY, 0F WARREN, OHIO, ACORPORATION OF OHIO :PROCESS OF MAKING PRESSEDfSTEEL CAR WHEELS Application led December 22, 1928.' Serial No. 328,019.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in the process of making pressed steel car wheels, and more especially to the process of making such wheels particularly adapted` for use on hand cars, power `or hand-propelled section cars, and the like.

One of the features of my invention is the dispensing with all annealing operations, at the same time making the wheel hard and strong. In the practice of my invention, during the formation of the wheel, the metal is thickened, thus making it harder and more resistant to wear. By the use of my invention, a strong, durable, hard, superior wheel may be easily and quickly manufactured.

Another feature of my invention is the means for thickening the metal in the tread adjacent the fiange where the greatest amount of wear occurs.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings accompanying the specification and forming a part thereof, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a completed wheel; Figs. 2, 3 and 1 are vertical sectional views of wheel and dies showing steps in the process of manufacture; and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on an en larged scale of a part of the wheel and die shown in Fig. 4.

In the practice of my invention, a fiat piece of sheet steel 10 is first drawn by means of a die as shown in Fig. 2 to form the tread 1011 of the wheel and to thicken the sheet steel at 15b. The die sections are indicated by 11, 11a, 12, 12a. It will be noted that die section 122L is recessed at 12c so that the sheet steel will not be held between die sections 11 and 12a during the last third of depth of draw, thus permitting it to draw in freely and thicken very rapidly The metal is then placed in another deeper die 13, 13n and die section 14: applied to press and draw the tread 10a and form an annular extension 10b thereon. rllhis pressing and drawing of the metal thickens the saine and makes it harder. I have found that thus thickening the metal not only hardens the surface but also hardens the interior of the metal. In fact, I have found that such hardening of the metal by thickcn'mg the same is in all respects superior to annealing.

` I then place the metal in a third die 15, 15a and superimpose die section 16 which operates on the margin of the extension 10" to bend the same on itself to form the flange of the wheel. The die 15, it is to be noted, is somewhat relieved, as indicated at 15b, so that as die section 16 operates, the portion of the tread adjacent the flange is slightly thickened. This thickening occurs at the point subjected to the greatest wear in op-` eration.`

It is to be particularly noted that I procure the necessary hardness of the metal by thickening the same and accomplish this at the same time that the wheel is being formed in the die. It is obvious, however, that such thickening may be accomplished in other ways. For example, an ordinary wheel manufactured by the annealing proc?. ess could be hardened afterwards by roll"` ing the same with a hard roll. Rolling the metal in this manner by the application of a hard roll would serve to harden the metal.

While I have shown and described cer-a tain embodiments of my invention, it is to" be understood that it is capable of many modifications; changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope` of the invention disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty in my invention as broadly as possible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to se;` cure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The process of making a pressed steel car wheel consisting of rst dishing the metal to form the tread, then pressing and drawing the metal to thicken the tread and form an annular extension thereon, then bending the extension on itself to form the fiange.

2. The process of making a pressed steel car wheel consisting of first dishing the metal to form the tread, then pressing and drawing the metal to thicken the tread and `form an annular extension thereon, then pressing on the margin of the extension to bend the same on itself to form the flange, saidpressing also operating tothioken the portion of the tread adjacent the flange.

3. The process of making a pressed steel g: car WheelV consisting of first dishing the metal to form the tread, then pressing and drawing the metal to harden the tread and form an annular extension thereon, and

v then pressing onlthe margin of the extension to bend the same on itself to form the Hange, said pressing valso operating to thicken the portion of j the tread adjacent ,l so.

Y. )In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day vof December, A. D. "1928; Y"

JOHN R. WINTER. 

